Time shifting recording switch when phone calling

ABSTRACT

The invention takes the advantage of features such as TiVo Digital Video Recorders (DVRs) or ReplayTV DVRs, which provide continuous recording of broadcasting programs and allow users to replay any missed portions of the program. The invention records the date and time of incoming/outgoing communication events, such as phone calls, as well as the current channel number being viewed. With reference to the recorded date, time and channel number, it allows users to choose between continuing viewing the current program or going back to view the entire program starting from the missed portions due to one or more incoming/outgoing calls.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates generally to consumer entertainment systems. Moreparticularly, it relates to set top terminals for use with TV systemsfor recording the time when on-line connection of an incoming oroutgoing communication event is established. This allows a user theflexibility of whether to continue viewing the current TV show or toview it from the time the on-line connection was established.

Set top terminals have been widely used in connection with TV systemsfor providing a variety of features and options to users, such asproviding cable TV services, interactive services, etc. In more recentyears, the functionality of set top terminals have been further expandedto include services such as managing and tracking live TV shows inresponse to a communication event, such as a phone call. When a phonerings while a user is watching an interesting TV show, the user has tomake a decision of whether to take the call and miss some portions ofthe TV show, answer the phone but ask the caller to call at a latertime, or simply let the phone ring. In the case of an expected,important or urgent call, the user has no choice but to take the calland skip some portions of the TV show. One way to handle an incomingcall is to record the TV show with a video recording device, but theuser has to always make sure that a blank video tape is present in therecording device and act quickly when the phone rings.

Another way to handle an incoming phone call is to use a system to pausethe TV program. The system buffers the TV program while it is paused,permitting a user to replay missed portions of the video programming.Such an example is disclosed in PCT application no. WO 02/03683, appliedby Discovery Communications, Inc.

However, the above system suffers from several drawbacks. First, it isdifficult to properly buffer the TV program in response to multiplephone calls occurred at different times. For example, upon receiving aphone call, the system buffers the TV program and allows a user toreplay the missed portions of the TV program. While the user is watchingthe missed portions, another call comes along, and so on. In such asituation, the system would need to buffer the TV program each time anincoming call is answered. However, in reality it is impossible. Anotherdrawback of the system is that it lacks the flexibility of allowing theuser to continue viewing the current TV program, especially if it is alive sports event.

Therefore, there is a need for an improved system that provides moreflexibility to a user in managing TV programs in response to one or morecommunication events.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a solution that gives more flexibility toa user in managing TV programs in response to one or more communicationevents.

The invention takes the advantage of the features of digital videorecorders (DVRs), such as TiVo DVRs or ReplayTV DVRs, which providecontinuous recording of broadcasting programs and allow users to replayany missed portions of the program. According to one embodiment of theinvention, it detects whether on-line connection of a communicationevent is established. Upon detecting the on-line connection, it recordsdate and time of the on-line connection and a current channel numberbeing viewed. A user is then allowed to choose between continuingviewing the video program as it is currently being played and viewingthe video program from the time on-line connection was established. Ifthe user chooses to view the video program from the time on-lineconnection was established, the video contents are retrieved from thestorage device starting from the recorded date and time selected by theuser and are then played. On the other hand, if the user chooses tocontinue viewing the video program as it is currently being played, thecurrent video program is played.

In the case of multiple communication events occurring at differenttimes, a user is prompted to select desired date and time for playingthe video program. The video contents or a channel number associatedwith the selected date and time are retrieved starting from the date andtime selected by the user and are then played.

Other objects and attainments together with a fuller understanding ofthe invention will become apparent and appreciated by referring to thefollowing description and claims taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is explained in further detail, and by way of example,with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a functional block diagram illustrating a set top terminalfor use with a TV set, according to one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a more detailed diagram of the set top terminal according toone embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 shows a flow chart diagram illustrating the operation of the settop terminal according to one embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 4 shows an exemplary table format for organizing the date, time andaddress information to be stored.

Throughout the drawings, the same reference numerals indicate similar orcorresponding features or functions.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 shows a functional block diagram illustrating a set top terminal10 for use with a TV set 20, according to one embodiment of theinvention. Terminal 10 has a number of features, including performingconventional functions such as receiving and decoding video signals. Italso implements digital video recorder (DVR) features such as thoseprovided by TiVo DVRs commercially available from TiVo Inc. in Alviso,Calif., U.S.A, or those provided by ReplayTV DVRs commercially availablefrom SONICblue Inc. in Santa Clara, Calif., U.S.A. A DVR knows theprogram schedule of all the channels a user receives. Based on theuser's instructions, it records programs to an internal hard disk forlater playback. The user can pause, rewind, fast-forward or watch inslow-motion any program, live or pre-recorded. Terminal 10 of theinvention takes the advantage of these features and records the date andtime of incoming/outgoing communication events, such as phone calls fromtelephone 30 and mobile device 40, as well as the channel number beingviewed. With reference to the recorded date, time and channel number, itallows users to have a greater flexibility to choose between continuingviewing the current program or going back to view the entire programstarting from the missed portions due to one or more incoming/outgoingcalls.

FIG. 2 is a more detailed diagram of terminal 10 showing animplementation of the present invention. In FIG. 2, terminal 10 includesthree major components: hardware 210, system software 220 andapplication software 240. Hardware 210 includes a telephone interface212 for connecting to telephone 30, a wireless interface for connectingto mobile device 40, a storage device 216 (e.g., a hard disk) forstoring video signals and other data, and conventional hardware 218.System software 220 includes middleware 222, real-time operating system(RTOS) and digital TV platform 224, a storage manager 226 for managingstorage device 216, and a mark-up module 228 for detecting on-lineconnection of telephone 30 or mobile device 40 and recording the date,time and channel number being viewed whenever on-line connection isestablished. The recorded date and time of the call and the channelnumber will be stored in storage device 216 for later retrieval.Application software 240 includes mark-up application software 242 forinteracting with the user, e.g., prompting the user for input andreceiving the user's commands for performing specific functions.

FIG. 3 shows a flow chart diagram illustrating the operation of set topterminal 10 according to one embodiment of the invention. In thisoperation, terminal 10 monitors on-line connection and records the dateand time of an incoming or outgoing communication event such as a phonecall, as well as the current channel number of TV set 20 being viewed.By keeping track of such date, time and channel number, it can provide auser with an option to continue viewing the current video program orview it from the time when the on-line connection was established. Theinvention provides more flexibility to the user when multiplecommunication events occur at different times.

As shown in FIG. 3, at step 310, terminal 10 monitors on-line connectionof either an incoming or an outgoing phone call originated fromtelephone 30 and mobile device 40. Upon detecting the on-line connectionat step 320 as the user picks up the phone, terminal 10 records the dateand time when the on-line connection is established and the currentchannel number being viewed (step 330). The set of data (i.e., date,time and current channel number) is stored in storage device 216, e.g.,a hard disk, in a table format at step 340. A sequence number isassigned to each set of data with reference to each communication eventfor easy use at a later time, as will be further described in connectionwith FIG. 4.

Upon detecting on-line disconnection (step 350) as the user hangs up thephone, terminal 10 prompts for user's input (step 360) and provides theuser with an option of whether to view the video program starting fromthe time on-line connection was established. If the user wants tocontinue viewing the current program because, for example, it is a livebroadcasting event, such as a football game, terminal 10 will allow theuser to view the current video program (step 380). On the other hand, ifthe user wants to view the missed portions of the video program becauseit is a drama or a TV series, for example, terminal 10 will prompt theuser to select from a table a desired date and time when the on-lineconnection was established (step 390). If no input is detected, thechannel information in the last set of data is automatically used forretrieving the recorded video program. The video program is playedstarting from selected date and time for the associated channel number(step 394).

By tracking the date and time whenever on-line connection is establishedfor a communication event, the invention gives a user much greaterflexibility, especially when multiple incoming/outgoing communicationevents occur at different times. The user merely needs to select thedate and time, and the associated channel number is retrieved and usedto start playing the video program from the selected date and time.

FIG. 4 shows an exemplary table format for organizing the date, time andassociated channel number to be stored in storage device 216 whenon-line connection of an incoming or outgoing communication event isestablished. In this table, a sequence number is assigned for eachon-line connection and is associated with a set of data consisting ofthe date, time and channel number. This allows the user to easily keeptrack multiple incoming/outgoing communication events.

In the above description, phone calls have been used as an example ofincoming/outgoing communication events. The invention can also be usedin connection with other types of communication events, such as e-mails,pagers, SMS (Short Message Service), etc. Further, although the set topterminal of the invention is illustrated as a separate component, it maybe integrated into the TV set.

While the invention has been described in conjunction with specificembodiments, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications andvariations will be apparent to those skilled in the art in light of theforegoing description. Accordingly, it is intended to embrace all suchalternatives, modifications and variations as fall within the spirit andscope of the appended claims.

1. A set top terminal, comprising: a storage device that is configuredto continuously record a current video program; a detection circuit thatis configured to detect on-line connection of a communication event; arecording circuit, operably coupled to the storage device and thedetection circuit, that is configured to record date and time of theon-line connection and a current channel number being viewed; and aselection circuit, operably coupled to the detection circuit, that isconfigured to allow a user to choose between continuing viewing thevideo program as it is currently being played and viewing the videoprogram from the time the on-line connection was established.
 2. Theterminal of claim 1, further comprising a retrieving circuit, operablycoupled to the storage device and the selection circuit, that isconfigured to retrieve video contents from the storage device startingfrom the recorded date and time selected by the user, if the userchooses to view the video program from the time the on-line connectionwas established.
 3. The terminal of claim 2, further comprising aplaying circuit, operably coupled to the retrieving circuit, that isconfigured to play the retrieved video contents.
 4. The terminal ofclaim 2, wherein the selection circuit includes a prompting circuit thatis configured to prompt for a user's input to select desired date andtime for playing the video program; and the retrieving circuit retrievesthe video contents for a channel number associated with the selecteddate and time.
 5. The terminal of claim 4, further comprising a playingcircuit, operably coupled to the retrieving circuit, that is configuredto play the retrieved video contents.
 6. The terminal of claim 1,wherein the storage device stores the date, time and a current channelnumber being viewed in a pre-defined table format as a set of dataassociated with the on-line connection of the communication event, alongwith a sequence number for each set of data.
 7. A method for trackingthe time of on-line connection of a communication event in a system thatcontinuously records a current video program in a storage device, themethod comprising the steps of: detecting whether on-line connection ofa communication event is established; upon detecting the on-lineconnection, recording date and time of the on-line connection and acurrent channel number being viewed; and allowing a user to choosebetween continuing viewing the video program as it is currently beingplayed and viewing the video program from the time on-line connectionwas established.
 8. The method of claim 7, further comprising the stepof: if the user chooses to view the video program from the time on-lineconnection was established, retrieving the video contents from thestorage device starting from the recorded date and time selected by theuser.
 9. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of playingthe retrieved video contents.
 10. The method of claim 8, furthercomprising the step of: after the recording step, prompting for a user'sinput to select desired date and time for playing the video program; andwherein the video contents are retrieved for a channel number associatedwith the selected date and time.
 11. The method of claim 10, furthercomprising the step of playing the retrieved video contents.
 12. Themethod of claim 7, further comprising the step of storing the date, timeand a current channel number being viewed in a pre-defined table formatas a set of data associated with the on-line connection of thecommunication event, along with a sequence number to each set of data.13. A television (TV) set, comprising: a tuner; a display operablycoupled to the tuner; and a recording device, operably coupled to thetuner, that includes a storage device that is configured to continuouslyrecord a current video program, a detection circuit that is configuredto detect on-line connection of a communication event, a recordingcircuit, operably coupled to the storage device and the detectioncircuit, that is configured to record date and time of the on-lineconnection and a current channel number being viewed, and a selectioncircuit, operably coupled to the detection circuit, that is configuredto allow a user to choose between continuing viewing the video programas it is currently being played and viewing the video program from thetime the on-line connection was established.
 14. The TV set of claim 13,wherein the recording device further includes a retrieving circuit,operably coupled to the storage device and the selection circuit, thatis configured to retrieve video contents from the storage devicestarting from the recorded date and time selected by the user, if theuser chooses to view the video program from the time the on-lineconnection was established.
 15. The TV set of claim 14, wherein therecording device further includes a playing circuit, operably coupled tothe retrieving circuit, that is configured to play the retrieved videocontents.
 16. The TV set of claim 14, wherein the selection circuitincludes a prompting circuit that is configured to prompt for a user'sinput to select desired date and time for playing the video program; andthe retrieving circuit retrieves the video contents for a channel numberassociated with the selected date and time.
 17. The TV set of claim 16,wherein the terminal further includes a playing circuit, operablycoupled to the retrieving circuit, that is configured to play theretrieved video contents.
 18. The TV set of claim 13, wherein thestorage device stores the date, time and a current channel number beingviewed in a pre-defined table format as a set of data associated withthe on-line connection of the communication event, along with a sequencenumber for each set of data.